The Forgetten Art

Prologue

"The time has come my apprentice."

Shadowlight looked up from meditation to see his master looking down at him. The master was an old pony. He had a nearly bald head, save a few grey hairs. His Fu Manchu mustache was also grey, extending about 4 inches down. He was a unicorn. His cutie mark was the Chinese symbol for "Sensei".

"Rise, Guāngyǐng qiánfēng," said the master, "your final test to prove your capabilities of defeating The Destroyer is at hand." Guāngyǐng qiánfēng was Shadowlight's official name, although he much preferred his common-tongue translation "Shadowlight Striker".

Shadowlight stood up and bowed to his master. He was a medium sized pony with a rather strong build. His skin itself would say it all if he didn't have his smooth grey coat covering it. The scars he had each told their own story. His mane was half black and half white, separated at the middle of his scalp. It was styled in a shaggy way, mostly because he didn't have time to do something that unnecessary. His tail resembled his mane in color and style. He had eyes that resembled clear water. He was a unicorn, which was especially useful for his line of training. His ears were very pointed, and they pointed downward. His cutie mark was the Chinese symbol for Self Discipline.

"Sensei, what does this test require?" He asked, donning his hoof bands. He wore eight of them. Two on each leg, one of which was just above his elbow joints, and the other right around his hoof. He had four white bands, and four black. The two elbow bands on the front were white, and the two hoof bands on the front were black. This was reversed for his back legs.

The master took up his fighting stance, the act of standing on two hooves, raising his right hoof in front of him, and putting his left to his side. "Your final test, is to take all you've learned, and defeat me."

Shadowlight was taken aback by this. He was unsure in his ability to take down the one who had taught him every technique he knew. Regardless, he took up stance, and faced his opponent. Almost immediately, the master rushed into combat, throwing a punch square at Shadowlight's jowl.

Shadowlight had just barely been able to throw up a deflect, and due to this slow thinking, the Sensei was able to easily counter with a sweep kick. This knocked Shadowlight flat on his back.

"Tsk tsk tsk," mocked the Sensei. "Have I taught you nothing? I may look old, but you of all ponies should know I can take a punch." He chuckled. "Are you ready to try seriously yet?" Shadowlight immediately got back on his feet. "Remember Guāngyǐng qiánfēng, in order to harness the power of Xiao Ma Fu, you must feel out your opponent with your hands, not your eyes. Focus."

Shadowlight took a deep breath, and mounted an offensive. After several attacks, deflects, parries, and dodges, Shadowlight noticed an opening. He immediately threw a knee into his masters unguarded flank. This immediately dropped the master to his knees. Shadowlight stopped attacking, thinking he'd won. Suddenly, the Sensei disappeared and was behind Shadowlight, and connected with a swift neck strike. This strike had incapacitated Shadowlight for several minutes. Upon awaking, he saw his master.

"How did you...?" said Shadowlight.

"You must always be aware young one. Thinking you've won, and actually winning are two different things. Never let your guard down until you've checked your opponent. Be ready for anything." Upon uttering that last word, he immediately threw a jab in towards Shadowlight, who was still on the floor. Shadowlight, seeing this, immediately slid back into a somersault, landing on his feet.

To his masters surprise, Shadowlight used his horn to levitate a battle staff from the training table directly into the Sensei's back, knocking him to the ground. Shadowlight immediately followed up by casting dark and light restraints to the master's hooves and midsection, pinning him to the ground. He then used a light flare to blind Sensei, after finishing him by trapping him in a solid box made of darkness.

After a moment, Sensei launched a counter spell that removed all of the encumbering spells. "Excellent! Your resourcefulness is quite impressive. You are ready." The Sensei walked over to a cabinet and removed an impressive sword. It was a katana. The handle was black and white twisting up until it reached the blade, where it branched out slightly to form the hilt. The sheathe was striped in black and white. "This sword is only given to he who shows proficient balance in the use of light and darkness," The Sensei explained, "Use it carefully, as it augments the users powers based on their affinity with light or dark. You must never become too dark as it will make the blade an unholy weapon of mass destruction and death. Likewise do not become too light, as it will become a weapon bent on destroying anyone without a pure soul."

"I will, Sensei. Domo." said Shadowlight, taking the blade and sheathing it. "Where am I to go now master?"

"You shall now embark on a journey to a distant land. It is called 'Ponyville'," explained the Sensei. "It is where the destroyer shall appear in 2 years time. The time to defeat Huǐhuài for good is upon us, and it is up to you, Guāngyǐng qiánfēng. Bring honor to the secret art of Xiao Ma Fu, and save the world from certain destruction."

"Domo Sensei. I shall depart in the morning." said Shadowlight. With that, he bowed to his Sensei, and went to his sleeping quarters to rest up and prepare for his long journey.